Thursday, December 15, 2011

Association for the Study of Esotericism
Fourth International Conference
Call for Papers: Esotericism, Religion, and Culture
July 19-22, 2012 Please note date change!

The Association for the Study of Esotericism (ASE) is seeking paper and panel proposals for its fourth International North American Conference on Esotericism to be held at the University of California, Davis.

We are seeking proposals on topics in Western Esotericism, particularly related to themes exploring the relationships between esotericism, religion, and culture. Papers may focus on any one of these topics, or on a specific conjunction of topics, especially as it relates to esotericism, and we encourage papers that feature intellectual history or history of ideas. We invite proposals on magic, alchemy, astrology, ritual practice, mysticism, spiritualism, occultism, hermeticism, neo-paganism, contemporary esoteric movements and teachers, Asian influences on Western traditions, and other related topics.
In addition to the broad theme of culture—which includes literature, art, philosophy, and drama, as well as religion—we would like to feature a methodological discussion (Esotericism Across the Disciplines). We also are interested in panels specifically on mysticism. ASE regards esotericism as an interdisciplinary field of research and we invite scholars from all disciplines to share their research and writings in support of a cross-fertilization of perspectives. We welcome scholars from a wide range of areas, including anthropology, American studies, art history, history, intellectual history, religious studies, literature, philosophy, psychology, medieval studies, sociology—the full range of academic disciplines and fields.. In order to encourage graduate study in the field, we will offer a modest prize for the best graduate student paper presented.

Because of the schedule change for the conference dates, now July 19-22, our extended deadline for panel or paper proposal submission is 15 February 2012.

If you wish to submit a paper proposal or a thematically focused panel proposal (with three presenters and short descriptions included) for review and possible presentation at the conference, please send it by regular email to

ASE2012Conference@gmail.com

No attachments, please: simply copy and paste your abstract into plain text email. Individual abstracts should be limited to one or two paragraphs, and must indicate academic affiliation and/or other academic qualifications. Independent scholars are welcome to submit proposals. Please note that our previous conference was at maximum capacity, so it is best to submit your proposal sooner rather than later. We hope to post a preliminary list of accepted proposals early in 2012. Possible venues for the publication of conference papers include the book series Studies in Esotericism (this will be the fourth volume in the series).

For more information on the ASE, see our website at www.aseweb.org
An additional announcement will be forthcoming on the 2012 ASE conference, with information on location, hotels, and conference registration for speakers and ASE members.

Registration fees will be $235, and $135 for graduate students. We will be posting hotel information and making conference registration available after January 15, 2012.

Anima Mundi http://t.co/bWzouJNt in Pathways to the Jungian World:
Phenomenology and Analytic Psychology

2011-12-03 08:46:55
t3dy: Boehme's Speculative Theology http://t.co/Ye0GDnXM in Anima Mundi:
the rise of the world soul theory in modern German philosophy

Philosophy of Chemistry http://t.co/QCUjGucy

The Medicinal Use of Plants by Chimpanzees in the Wild
http://t.co/qoeEke9i

some people can hallucinate colors at will http://t.co/tiaGwIoh

A Response to Robert Pasnau on Studying the History of Ph
ilosophy
http://t.co/OjSzGQ1D historical study is valuable in itself

Voynich Manuscript online http://t.co/MmCQpgOD via @avisolo

Robert Pasnau: "Aquinas explains human freedom without any recourse
to an uncaused, undetermined act of will or intellect... [1/2]
...as if only an uncaused decision could count as a free decision."
[2/2]

The Latin Aristotle http://t.co/cV9TpPsP

Robert Pasnau on Philosophy of Mind and Human Nature
http://t.co/5eo8cTy0 (contrast with Pinker)

Robert Pasnau, “Metaphysical Themes: 1274-1671″
http://t.co/E0aoXKNm

"...and the resultant proliferation of wild metaphysics was the price
they paid."

Mind and Hylomorphism http://t.co/km7BZ3sn

"Divisions of Epistemic Labor: Some Remarks on the History of Fideism
and Esotericism" http://t.co/YzxMau4d

Pasnau: “Aquinas usually refers to the soul as subsistent, and only
occasionally speaks of it as a substance.”

review of Pasnau on Human Nature in Aquinas http://t.co/TysKZrxy

"The discipline of philosophy benefits from a serious, sustained
engagement with its history." -Robert Pasnau http://t.co/iB6DyKzb

Robert Pasnau - A Letter to a Graduate Student interested in studying
the History of Philosophy http://t.co/iB6DyKzb

"Philosophers today have largely given up on the project of
categorizing being." -Robert Pasnau @_shrine_

December 25th is associated with the birth of many pagan gods...and
that's what Christmas is about, Charlie Brown http://t.co/3Xy1FrYE

RT @fadesingh: Raphael Bousso on the universe as hologram:
http://t.co/sCNXWTvV

"When a poet's mind is perfectly equipped for its work, it is
constantly amalgamating experience..." T.S. Eliot

Alchemical Metaphors have much to offer music theory (slightly
expanded) http://t.co/wFakX0VN

Mary McCarthy: On a level usually thought to be “harmless,”
addiction to platitudes and commonplaces is global.... [1/2]
...To Burroughs’ ear, the Bore, lurking in the hotel lobby, is
literally deadly. [2/2] http://t.co/1TjsKAlm

William Burroughs literary criticism http://t.co/IiRbrnn7

INT: Do you think [a science of association blocks] will destroy the
magic? WSB: Not at all. I would say it would enhance it.

"Beckett wants to go inward. First he was in a bottle and now he is
in the mud. I am aimed in the other direction—outward." -Burroughs

"In one sense a special use of words and pictures can conduce
silence." -William S. Burroughs

"what has been damaged in pain is, of course, the image" -WSB

"I've had all the interesting effects I need, and I don't want any
repetition of those extremely unpleasant physical reactions." -Burroughs

"more a hallucinated viewpoint than any actual hallucination"

Burroughs interview--"altering what we call reality, which I would
define as a more or less constant scanning pattern." http://t.co/cM6uNUY3

"I didn't feel compelled. I had nothing else to do. Writing gave me
something to do every day. I don't feel the results were...spectacular."

McLuhan letter about Burroughs from 1964 http://t.co/PAHxqtKQ

Marshall McLuhan: Notes on Burroughs http://t.co/vnHwRF56

crowdsourcing the multiplication of the philosopher's stone
http://t.co/K5QWkLjW

Is anybody using alchemical metaphors (other than the co-opted
homonculus) to describe problems in philosophy of Mind? Such strange
changes.

Alchemy has much to offer music theory--theorizing by means of colors
and subtle changes, attention to time, geometry, measurement generally

Alchemical metaphors can be used more or less effectively. I find
them most useful in concrete, hands-dirty grokking of science and/or art.

We need alchemy as a metaphor to understand the bizarre and terrible
magic of chemistry. Science is a monstrous, transformative power.

I worry that alchemical metaphors have lost their power in being
diluted in support of all these vague, weak occultisms.

RT @etominusipi: @t3dy we should do more to celebrate Giordano Bruno.
his cosmic vision was superb. his treatment particularly shabby.